Audiologist
Change people's lives by helping them hear better. You'd test patients' hearing and find the right solution to support them.
Also known as: audiological scientist
About the job
What it's like
Imagine a job where you get to make a real difference in people's lives by helping to improve their hearing. Sound like a career for you?
You'd work with babies, children and adults suffering from hearing loss. They may also have additional support needs such as sight loss or learning disabilities. By testing their hearing, you'd find the right solution to support them.
You might help a child hear their first words clearly. Or support someone to reconnect with their loved ones through conversation. You'll be the reason they can experience the world in a whole new way.
You'll need to be a patient problem-solver. A knack for putting people at ease and communicating well is important too.
Your tasks might include:
carrying out auditory tests for babies, children, and adults
testing a person’s sense of balance and checking for inner ear disorders
examining a patient’s outer ears, ear canal, and eardrum
taking impressions of a patient’s ear to create an ear mould for a hearing aid
helping other healthcare professionals diagnose the cause of a patient’s hearing loss
testing and maintaining hearing devices
providing counselling and support to help patients adjust to their hearing loss
providing information on communication, adapting to different listening environments and using assistive equipment
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- analysing
- taking initiative
- developing a plan
- empathising
- researching
- observation
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- supporting
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Biology
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Human Biology
You'll need a first or upper second class honours degree, in a science or a relevant subject such as:
Maths
Physics
Biological Sciences
Psychology
Linguistics
Speech and Language Therapy
Entry requirements will differ depending on the subject. You'll likely need National 5 qualifications and four or five Highers.
After your degree you'd take the two year fast track postgraduate diploma or masters course in Audiology.
To work in audiology you’ll need to:
have good interpersonal and communication skills
be able to think logically and adopt an analytical scientific approach
have caring and patient-focused attitude to your work
have an interest in science and technology
be comfortable using modern technology and complex equipment
pay great attention to detail
produce a high quality of work under pressure
be able to work as part of a team
You'll also need to pass a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Disclosure check.
When you qualify as an audiologist, you'll register with the Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS). You'd register as a healthcare science practitioner.
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